By R.L. Bynum
Former UNC center Anya Poole will play her fifth college season at Clemson. Poole announced the decision in an Instagram post on Monday afternoon, saying, “welcome to the jungle.”
The 6–2 Poole is the fourth of the six UNC players to enter the transfer portal to commit to a second school after guard Paulina Paris committed to Arizona, Aly Zelaya to UNCW, and Teonni Key to Kentucky. On Tuesday, RyLee Grays committed to Virginia. Deja Kelly hasn’t announced her plans.
Clemson fired head coach Amanda Butler after the Tigers went 12–19 last season and hired former Chattanooga coach Shawn Poppie to replace her.
“As we identified a need at that position, we looked for experience at this level, a physical presence, and someone with the ability to be versatile,” Poppie said. “Anya checked all of our boxes and finished the last check as being our type of kid.
“I initially recruited Anya and her family during the high school process and our relationship picked right back up throughout this process.,” Poppie said. “Anya will represent our program in a great way on and off the court.”
In five games for UNC against Clemson, Poole collected a total of 18 points and 27 rebounds. She had six points and 13 rebounds on Feb. 2, 2022, in the Tar Heels’ 81–62 home win over the Tigers.
Poole started only six of 33 games last season after starting 31 times the season before. In 116 games and 74 starts over four seasons, she averaged 5.0 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Poole scored in double figures 20 times in her career, with a career-high 17 points on Nov. 14, 2021, at Charlotte. She had four career double-doubles, including 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against Minnesota on Dec. 1, 2021.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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